Varsity 541

PREP FOOTBALL

Bishop named SSC defensive player of the year

Mail Tribune
November 22, 2009

At 6-foot tall and 320 pounds, Mike Bishop already had the size to be an impact player in the Southern Sky Conference.

The Crater High senior backed up that expectation with determined play throughout the regular season, earning him the nod as the SSC's defensive player of the year in recent voting by the conference's coaches.

"I think he's by far the most dominant defensive presence in our league and probably from the film I've watched, the best defensive lineman at the 5A level and maybe in the state," said Crater coach John Beck.

Bishop was one of 15 selections to the all-SSC first team for Crater, with Beck named co-coach of the year with Ashland's Charlie Hall.

Mazama tailback Dylan Carlson, who led the league with 1,066 yards rushing on 220 carries, was named the league's offensive player of the year.

Joining Bishop on the first-team defense were teammates Zach Zelecki, Garrett Alner, Chad Johnson, Ryan Sonday and Sammy Clark. Crater's first-team selections on offense were Tyler Turituri, Devin Massey, Clark, Corey Charley, Travis Foote, Zelecki, Christian Massey, Jacob Ziegler and Austin Siegel.

"I think every coach probably thinks all their kids are deserving of being the best players," said Beck. "Some kids get what they deserve and I think some kids don't get what they deserve."

Ashland had two first-team selections in wide receiver Mason Costantino and punter Clinton Murphy, and Eagle Point defensive back Trent Kaiser also was named to the first team.

Besides his obvious stature, one of Bishop's best attributes involved his athleticism. While the senior mainly lines up at noseguard, Bishop has the ability to move around to different spots on the defensive line.

"He's a big guy but his athleticism, his speed and change of direction, and his motor make him a very, very formidable high school defensive lineman," said Beck. "He's a playmaker and a Division I scholarship athlete."

Turituri completed 60 of 105 passes for 1,013 yards with 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions in the regular season, gaining plenty of time to throw thanks to the efforts of Charley (center), Foote (guard), Zelecki (tackle) and Clark (tight end).

Devin Massey was the SSC's third-leading running back with 568 yards on 78 carries, while his cousin Christian Massey hauled in 19 passes for 306 yards and Ziegler had 15 catches for 203 yards.

Siegler converted four field goals and 28 extra-point attempts as Crater's placekicker.

Costantino led the SSC with 41 receptions for 739 yards for the Grizzlies.

Southern Sky All-Stars

FIRST TEAM

Offense

Quarterback — Tyler Turituri, Crater, Jr.

Running back — Dylan Carlson, Mazama, Sr.; Devin Massey, Crater, Sr.

Tight end — Sammy Clark, Crater, Sr.

Line — Center Corey Charley, Crater, Jr.; guard Damien Pulley, Klamath Union, Sr.; guard Travis Foote, Crater, Jr.; tackle Zach Zelecki, Crater, Jr.; tackle Will Morse, Klamath Union, Jr.

Wide receiver — Christian Massey, Crater, Sr.; Jacob Ziegler, Crater, Sr.; Deon McLaughlin, Klamath Union, Sr.; Mason Costantino, Ashland, Sr.

Kicker — Austin Siegel, Crater, Jr.

Defense

Line — Mike Bishop, Crater, Sr.; Zach Zelecki, Crater, Jr.; Cody Rick, Klamath Union, Sr.; Alex Stork, Klamath Union, So.

Linebackers — Garrett Alner, Crater, So.; Josh Peck, Mazama, Sr.; Chad Johnson, Crater, Sr.; Max Mirande, Klamath Union, So.

Backs — Ryan Sonday, Crater, Sr.; Sammy Clark, Crater, Sr.; Trent Kaiser, Eagle Point, Sr.; Peter Bell, Klamath Union, Jr.

Punter — Clinton Murphy, Ashland, Sr.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR — Dylan Carlson, Mazama.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR — Mike Bishop, Crater.

COACHES OF THE YEAR — John Beck, Crater; Charlie Hall, Ashland.

SECOND TEAM

Offense

Quarterback — Jake Scarminach, Ashland, Jr.

Running back — Gary Fonseca-Fischer, Klamath Union, Sr.; Steven Josephson, Eagle Point, Sr.

Tight end — J.R. Nelson, Mazama, Sr.

Line — Center Damien Clair, Klamath Union, Sr.; guard J.T. Rogers, Eagle Point, Jr.; guard Carlos Faiers, Mazama, Jr.; tackle Cody Rick, Klamath Union, Sr.; tackle Cory Slocum, Crater, Sr.

Wide receiver — Peter Bell, Klamath Union, Jr.; Kelley Beck, Crater, Sr.; Nicholas Hall, Ashland, Sr.; Greg Hall, Mazama, Jr.

Kicker — Mason Costantino, Ashland, Sr.

Defense

Line — Tyron Holmes, Eagle Point, So.; Cory Slocum, Crater, Sr.; Will Morse, Klamath Union, Jr.; John Lang, Mazama, Jr.

Linebackers — Damien Clair, Klamath Union, Sr.; Steven Josephson, Eagle Point, Sr.; Greg Hall, Mazama, So.; Parker Etchison, Crater, Sr.

Backs — Jacob Ziegler, Crater, Sr.; Christian Massey, Crater, Sr.; Nicholas Hall, Ashland, Sr.; Daniel Mathis, Mazama, Jr.

Punter — Devin Massey, Crater, Sr.

HONORABLE MENTION

Offense

Quarterback — Austin Marlia, Eagle Point, Sr.; Daniel Mathis, Mazama, Jr.

Running back — Justin Chavarria, Klamath Union, Sr.; Derek Cartwright, Crater, Sr.

Tight end — Kris Crawford, Klamath Union, So.; Jordan Resch, Ashland, Sr.

Line — Center, Kevin Schillings, Ashland, Jr.; guard Roger Van Orden, Crater, Jr.; tackle Tyrone Holmes, Eagle Point, So.; tackle Sam Cowan, Ashland.

Wide receiver — Aaron Foster, Eagle Point, Jr.; Lucas Stone, Ashland, Sr.; Josh Dalton, Crater, Sr.

Kicker — Peter Bell, Klamath Union, Jr.

Defense

Line — Evan Hatfield, Eagle Point, Jr.; Christian Ostmo, Ashland, Jr.

Linebackers — Wade McCready, Eagle Point, Sr.; Cody Ullom, Crater, Sr.; Nolan Sweet, Klamath Union, Sr.; T.J. Murphy, Ashland, Jr.

Backs — Zack Reed, Eagle Point, So.; Justin Chavarria, Klamath Union, Sr.

Punter — Austin Marlia, Eagle Point, Sr.

Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail khenry@mailtribune.com